The House of Representatives voted to hold IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congressby a 231 to 187 vote. Lerner has invoked her 5th Amendment rights against self-incrimination not once, but twiceat Congressional hearings. Many believe that Lerner waived her 5th Amendment rights by testifying in front of a Congressional hearing by making an opening statement and then going silent. The matter will now be referred to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the contempt charge will then be referred to a grand jury. However, it is unknown how the Eric Holder Justice Department will proceed, if at all. If ever convicted, Lerner could face between one and 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $100,000. Lois Lerner has since left the IRS, but not without being able to keep her whopping six figure pension.

Wasn’t the Obama administration supposed to be the most transparent presidency ever?

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to hold a former Internal Revenue Service official in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with an ongoing investigation into the agency’s special targeting of groups with “tea party” or “patriot” in their names that were seeking tax-exempt status.

On a 231 to 187 vote, the House approved a contempt citation against Lois G. Lerner, whose admission last year that the tax-enforcement agency had targeted conservative groups infuriated lawmakers in both parties, led to an overhaul of the IRS and Lerner’s eventual retirement from government service.

The House also passed a resolution Wednesday that called on Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the IRS’s targeting of conservative groups. House lawmakers voted 250 to 168to pass the resolution in which 26 Democrats joined all voting Republicans to approve it.

CBS News-DC: US Attorney To Oversee Lerner Contempt Case Appointed By Obama.

The matter now goes to Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Federal law says Machen has a “duty” to bring the matter before a grand jury. But a report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service said it was unclear whether the duty is mandatory or discretionary. Machen was appointed to his job by President Barack Obama.

“We will carefully review the report from the speaker of the House and take whatever action is appropriate,” Machen’s office said in a statement.

The vote calling on the Justice Department to appoint a special counsel was 250 to 168, with all Republicans voting in favor and most Democrats voting against.

Attorney General Eric Holder has denied previous requests to appoint a special counsel, saying it was unwarranted.

The House Oversight Committee voted 21-12 yesterday to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt for her refusal to answer questions regarding her role in the targeting of non-profit Conservative and Tea Party groups. The vote was along party lines. Democrats will rue the day that they voted in favor of defending Lois Lerner and the IRS controversy of specifically and intentionally targeting conservative groups. A note to Democrats voters, next time it could be you. As reported at Mediaite, Committee Chairman Darrell Issa said that they “need Ms. Lerner’s testimony to complete our oversight work and bring truth to the American people,” and they took the vote just a day after the House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to the Justice Department recommending they consider criminal charges for Lerner. Don’t hold your breathe that Eric Holder will do anything. Lerner evoked her 5th Amendment Rights, not once, but twice … but not before she made a statement before the committee stating her innocence.

“I have not done anything wrong. I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and I have not provided false information to this or any other Congressional committee.”

A House panel voted along party lines to hold ex-IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress on Thursday, paving the way for a full House vote as Republicans turn up the heat on the woman at the center of the controversy over tax-exempt tea party groups.

If approved by the full House as expected, it would be one of about a dozen congressional contempt votes in the past 35 years. Republicans voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt over the Fast and Furious matter in 2012.

The House Oversight Committee voted 21-12 along in a straight party line vote to hold Lerner in contempt for refusing to answer questions about her role in the IRS tea party scandal that erupted last May. The full House is expected to follow suit in the coming weeks. Democrats compared the process to the 1950s when Sen. Joe McCarthy directed a series of contempt votes on Americans who refused questioning about what he called their “un-American” activities.

“We need Ms. Lerner’s testimony to complete our [investigation],” said Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.). “Taxpayers don’t get to plead the Fifth [Amendment] and escape all accountability when the IRS audits them. … It would irresponsible for the committee not to vigorously pursue her testimony.”

The US House of Representatives voted Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congressover his obstruction in handing over documents with the ‘Fast and Furious’ government gun walking program. Democrats House minority leader Pelosi Holder Obama, the liberal MSM and the numerous Democrats have called it a political witch hunt. The criminal contempt of vote was 255-67. However, that is hard to say this vote was political AG Holder when 17 Democrats crossed party lines and voted to find Eric Holder in contempt of Congress. The House also passed civil contempt of Congress 258 – 95.

The House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress Thursday for failing to provide documents relating to the Fast and Furious gunwalking program.

The House took two votes, one on criminal contempt charges, which passed 255-67. The criminal contempt of Congress is likely not to go anywhere as the Justice Department, which Holder heads, is the department responsible for opening a criminal investigation.

The second charge, which passed 258 – 95, was a civil contempt charge, could move to federal court where it could take years to litigate. Though the action puts more pressure on the administration to abide by the subpoenas and provide requested documents.